Lake Titicaca is one of the cornerstones of Andean mythology – the legend indicates that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, children of the god Sun, emerged from its waters and walked all the way to Cusco to found the Inca Empire. Lake Titicaca is also the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 meters above sea level. The Uros Islands are located in the bay of Puno. An average of 5 Uro / Aymara families live in each of the 20 islands, which are man-made out of the reeds that naturally grow in the lake. The Uros call themselves Kotsuña (lake people), and their origins go back to before the Incas. They hunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishing methods - the men are skillful handlers of the totora reed boats, and the women are expert knitters.
Pre-Inca vestiges are found in the highest part of Taquile Island. During Colonial times and well into the twentieth century, it was used as a political prison, until the island went back to Taquileans in 1970. Taquileans are friendly people, who maintain their centuries-old traditions and clothing. Taquile textiles are world-renowned.